The world-renowned Bach Choir performs at Eton College

16 March 2010

The world-renowned Bach Choir willraise the roof with song at their welcome return to Eton College on Saturday 24 April. The concert is raising vital funds for children’s charity Action Medical Research.

Now in its 134th season, Bach Choir has long been established as one of the world's leading choruses and, under the direction of one of the UK’s leading conductors, David Hill, the combined voices of the 100-strong choir promises a magnificent evening of music to delight all music enthusiasts.

The stunning surroundings of the Main College Hall, with its historical setting and exquisite acoustics, will lend itself beautifully to this performance, making this a most spectacular and memorable occasion as the choir performs works by Bach, Fauré, Brahms and Tavener.

This is only the third time the Bach Choir has performed in Berkshire for Action Medical Research and the previous two concerts have raised over £50,000 for the charity.

The charity Action Medical Research funds vital work that aims to prevent, cure or treat conditions that devastate the lives of many thousands of babies, children and their families. The charity is currently funding research into many serious diseases and conditions, including meningitis, pneumonia, cerebral palsy and premature birth, as well as supporting the development of new treatments and aids to improve the quality of life for disabled children.

The Bach Choir has many outstanding recordings to its name. A disc of Handel choruses on the BIS label was released in 2009 and has received critical acclaim all over the world. In the Autumn of 2009 the Choir recorded two further discs: Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem and Sancta Civitas with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for Naxos, released this month; and the premiere recording of Philip Wilby’s A Brontë Mass, with the Black Dyke Band.

The Bach Choir regularly undertakes film score work, featuring prominently on the soundtracks of Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven, Disney’s Chronicles of Narnia, Dreamworks’ Shrek the Third and Ridley Scott’s new Robin Hood, in cinemas next month.

The concert starts at 7.45pm with an approximate running time of two hours including interval. Tickets start from £25 in the gallery, £30 stalls and £35 premier stalls, and are available from Mrs F Dunster on 01628 621 242.

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Notes to editors:

Works included in the concert:

BachLobet dem HerrnTavenerAnthems from The Veil of the TempleBrahmsIntermezzo Op 118 No 2BrahmsLiebeslieder WaltzesVaughan WilliamsEnglish Folk SongsFauréCantique de Jean RacineStenhammarNo 1 in Cm from Nights of Late Summer Op 33StenhammarFantasia in Bm Op 11 No 1BrahmsWaltzes for piano duetRutter, JohnDormi, JesuGregson, Edward A Welcome Ode

For more information about the concert please contact:

Tracey Edwards, Community Fundraising Manager for West & Central region

Action Medical Research is the leading UK-wide medical research charity dedicated to helping babies and children. We know that medical research can save and change children’s lives. For nearly 60 years we have been instrumental in significant medical breakthroughs, including the development of the UK polio vaccine and ultrasound scanning in pregnancy.

Today, we continue to find and fund the very best medical research to help stop the suffering of babies and children caused by disease and disability. We want to make a difference in:

tackling premature birth and treating sick and vulnerable babies

helping children affected by disability, disabling conditions and infections

targeting rare diseases that together severely affect many forgotten children.